Fifa request to give Gianni Infantino ‘Pope-level’ treatment rejected by Vancouver

{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fifa-request-gianni-infantino-pope-120348890.html","headline":"Fifa request to give Gianni Infantino ‘Pope-level’ treatment rejected by Vancouver","datePublished":"2026-04-28T12:03:48.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-28T12:03:48.000Z","keywords":["Gianni Infantino","Donald Trump","Vancouver","Mark Carney","security arrangements","Fifa","Lise Klaveness","Canadian Prime Minister","transportation arrangements"],"description":"The level of security detail proposed by Fifa was level with arrangements for the president of the United States and one above that offered to Canada’s prime...","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Yahoo Sports","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/default/icons/favicon_y112_112.png","width":112,"height":112},"url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Braidwood","url":"","jobTitle":""},"creator":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Braidwood","url":"","jobTitle":""},"provider":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Independent","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":477,"height":100,"url":"https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-07/c07edac0-3532-11ee-9f3d-9b3a3cc7fbbb"}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0mASTwF2bE7m0KPV2Mikxg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_us_sports_articles_270/ab152f822ce001a17f29175bca2ceefe","height":800,"width":1200},"thumbnailUrl":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0mASTwF2bE7m0KPV2Mikxg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_us_sports_articles_270/ab152f822ce001a17f29175bca2ceefe"}Story byFifa request to give Gianni Infantino ‘Pope-level’ treatment rejected by VancouverGianni Infantino will be attending the Fifa congress in Vancouver this week (AFP/Getty)Jamie BraidwoodTue, April 28, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC·2 min readPolice in Vancouver rejected a request from Fifa to provide president Gianni Infantino with a level-four motorcade escort, the sort of security arrangements usually reserved for the Pope, according to reports in Canada.Fifa’s annual congress takes place in Vancouver this week and Global BC reported football’s governing body asked for its president to be given a full motorcade escort through the city, allowing his convoy to go through downtown traffic lights while roads are blocked off.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_33iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: none; } @media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) { #_R_33iudcaanpfiv65bH1_ { display: flex; } iframe { max-width: 100vw; } }That type of security clearance is only one level below the Pope, is on terms with the president of the United States, and is higher than that offered to the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney.A statement from the City of Vancouver said: “Any transportation arrangements that are made will be appropriate, measured, and consistent with how Vancouver safely hosts major international events.” Fifa has been approached for comment.Infantino has formed a close bond with US president Donald Trump ahead of the World Cup, and The Independent has previously reported details of how the Swiss now moves in the orbit of the “elite”, such as attending Trump’s second inauguration.Fifa also requested for Infantino to be given a motorcade…

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